A section of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has suggested that Mr. Alan Kyerematen should support Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo as Flagbearer of the NPP, instead of contesting him again for the flagbearership position.
Others have also indicated on various social media networks that since Nana Addo is not �making the way� for Alan to be the flagbearer and then President of the country, he should go solo; per the constitution of Ghana.
In reaction to this, Mustapha Hamid, an aide to Nana Akufo Addo, two time flagbearer of the NPP, said on Citi Eye witness news, Tuesday that there will be nothing wrong if Mr. Kyerematen decides to contest as an independent candidate.
�If Alan feels he has obstacles in the party or people are blocking his chance of becoming a flagbearer per speculations, he can run as an independent candidate and that is a right; let him try that� he said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Alan Kyerematen has pointed out to his party members that just having a flagbearer is not good enough. He said the one who will be elected as the flagbearer needs to also take the party to the presidency, adding, the party will achieve the same results if they have not learnt any lessons from the previous elections.
He said on Metro TV, Tuesday that Akufo- Addo�s strong positioning within the party, �is not necessarily a reflection of what will help the party gain power in 2016. We should interrogate our own internal processes, organization, and campaign structure�
But reacting to this on Citi FM, Mustapha Hamid opined that he is not �convinced� Mr. Alan Kyerematen is �capable� of becoming President of the country.
According to him, once Alan Kyeramaten has failed twice in passing the first test of the NPP; becoming a flagbearer will be a huge mountain to climb.
�This argument has been made countless times and we have rebutted it countless times. We have already indicated that Nana Addo is not the first candidate on earth to make a third attempt at the presidency; we have cited countless examples of people who have made seventh, eighth, ninth attempts and so that is not really a point�
What is the point is that Alan Kyerematen has a mountain to climb inside the party before he makes a bid for the presidency outside the party. He�s put his popularity to test inside the party twice�I don�t see how he convinces us that he is capable of becoming president when it is difficult for him to cross the first hurdle to become President,� Mustapha added.
Support Nana As Flagbearer
In what may seem like an answer to those who think Alan Cash should throw his support behind Akufo Addo, Mr. Kyerematen said: �I have heard people in our party say that I should let Nana Akufo Addo run. The foundation of our party is based on the core element of democratic governance and much as we think about such principles at the national level, we need to reflect that in what we do in our party. Part of that is fair competition; allowing people who have interest to put themselves up for the party to be able to do so without any fear of intimidation�I think that is the spirit of what we believe in, it should be a free process�.
He further indicated: �I have very good relationship with Nana Akufo-Addo. I have contested him on two occasions and I am not sure you hear either Nana or myself in our rounds give any indication that we were at each other�s throats. Obviously, in any competition, you need to position yourself as a preferred candidate and that comes with its own limitations. But beyond that, I think the spirit of what we believe in should encourage us to have a process that is unlimited in terms of people who may want to put themselves up...It is not just myself. There are others who obviously might have the same interest�I don�t see the logic that we encourage people not to contest.�
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